Ninajirachi Dominates 2026 AIR Awards

Trending on Billboard With five wins, Ninajirachi was untouchable at the 2026 AIR Awards, presented Thursday evening (July 31) at Adelaide Town Hall. The EDM producer and DJ (real name: Nina Wilson) scooped the night’s big categories, including independent album, independent producer, and best independent electronic album or EP for I Love My Computer, while her breakthrough song “iPod Touch” took out best independent electronic single and independent song of the year. Co-written with Darcy Baylis, “iPod Touch” took shape in 2024 and was “one of the hardest songs to finish, ever,” Ninajirachi explained in a taped acceptance speech. “A lot of my album tracks just fell from the sky and they were so easy. ‘iPod Touch’ had 100,000 versions and at a point I really didn’t think it was going to make it onto the album. But I’m so happy it did. It’s a real lesson in persistence and I’m so grateful that it’s won.” Explore See latest videos, charts and news Ninajirachi has been an all-conquering force on the awards circuit since I Love My Computer dropped a year ago. In the months since, she bagged three ARIAs, the Australian Music Prize for album of the year, J Awards, the NSW Music Prize for breakthrough artist, and took out second place in the Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition for “iPod Touch.” Prior to Thursday evening, she had never won an AIR Award. After attending last year’s ceremony, Ninajirachi had an excellent reason to miss the AIR Awards this time; she’s currently touring the United States, with a show a Lollapalooza in Chicago on the same day as the indie awards. “If I could teleport, I would,” she insisted in a precorded bit. I Love My Computer also swept the industry segment of the 20th annual AIR Awards, with the independent mix, studio or mastering engineer of the year honor (Thomas Purcell PKA Wave Racer), independent publicity team of the year (Melody Forghani’s Twnty Three) and independent marketing team of the year (NLV Records, The Orchard). The good times didn’t end there. Nina Las Vegas (real name: Nina Agzarian) and her team at NLV Records snagged the last of 24 awards announced on the night, independent label of the year. In her victory speech, Las Vegas recounted a grumpy email sent five years ago to the team at The Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR), producers of the awards and the annual Indie-Con, also presented this week in the South Australian capital. “I just work really hard to get what I wanted, and I really wanted this,” she told the full house of industry guests. Earlier in the week, Las Vegas and her team launched the latest Ninajirachi single, “WannaCry,” a collaboration with Porter Robinson. With a trio of trophies, the ceremony was a massive success for Folk B*tch Trio. The rising act won for best independent blues and roots album or EP, breakthrough artist of the year and independent music video of the year for “Cathode Ray” (Bridgette Winten). Other artist winners included Wilsn (best independent soul/RNB album or EP), Devaura (best independent hip hop album or EP), Ruby Gill (best independent country album or EP), Way Dynamic (best independent pop album or EP), Playlunch (best independent rock album or EP), Thornhill (best independent heavy album or EP) and These New South Whales (best independent punk album or EP). Meanwhile, Sebastian Chase, founder of MGM Distribution, earned the outstanding achievement award. The industry veteran’s son Michael Chase was on hand to read a speech prepared by his dad. The awards were first established in 2006 as an effort to “recognize, promote, and celebrate the success of Australia’s Independent Music sector.” AIR itself was founded 30 years ago to the month, in July 1996. At the top of the 2026 edition, Hilton Gumbys, a Labor member of the Legislative Council in the South Australian Parliament, announced two additional years of state funding for the awards and Indie-Con, to secure the event in Adelaide until at least 2028. Performers including The Tullamarines, Cookin’ on 3 Burners, Georgia Knight, and Elsy Wameyo, and Dylan Lewis and Jessica Braithwaite were back on hosting duties. “Tonight we’re celebrating you,” AIR CEO Maria Amato told guests at the invite-only gathering. “The independent artists that do things that you love, on your own terms, and don’t let anyone stand in your way.” Check out all the winners here and below. Listen to AIR’s nominee playlist on its supporting partner platforms YouTube here and Amazon Music here. Best Independent Blues And Roots Album Or EPJohn Butler – PrismFolk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good Time (WINNER)Liz Stringer – The Second HighMelbourne Ska Orchestra – The Ballad Of Monte LocoSons Of The East – SonsBest Independent Jazz Album Or EPNatalie Gauci – Pictures Of MarsPhia – When I’m Holding You, I’m Holding MeTemporary Blessings – Sumbisori (WINNER)The Cat Empire – Bird In ParadiseTouch Sensitive – In ParadiseBest Independent Classical Album Or EPAndrea Lam – Piano DiaryAustralian String Quartet – Vanessa Perica, String Quartet No.1 No Feeling Is FinalJoseph Tawadros – The Forgotten Path To HumanityRose Riebl – DustWilliam Barton, Omega Ensemble – Gift – Our Breath Of Life (WINNER) Best Independent Children’s Album Or EPDiver City – Weekend BabyEmma Memma – Dance Island PartyJustine Clarke – Mimi’s SymphonyTeeny Tiny Stevies – Brain Fart (WINNER)The Wiggles, The Tree Of Wisdom – The Tree Of WisdomBest Independent Country Album Or EP Emily Lubitz – Two Black HorsesHayley Jensen – Country SoulImogen Clark – Choking On FuelRuby Gill – Some Kind Of Control (WINNER)Wade Forster – Gooseneck PartyBest Independent Soul/RnB Album Or EPBumpy – KananaCookin’ On 3 Burners – Cookin’ The BooksDon West – Give Me All Your LoveFelivand – My Body’s My True NorthWilsn – Bloom (WINNER)Best Independent Pop Album Or EPGeorgia Knight – BeanpoleMontaigne – It’s Hard To Be A FishStella Donnelly – Love And FortuneThe Tullamarines – Safety BlanketWay Dynamic – Massive Shoe (WINNER)Best Independent Rock Album Or EPPlaylunch – Sex Ed (WINNER)Spacey Jane – If That Makes SenseTeen Jesus And The Jean Teasers – GloryThe Belair Lipbombs – AgainThe Southern River Band – Easier Said Than DoneIndependent Marketing Team Of The YearMushroom Music – Bliss N Eso, The Moon (The Light Side)Nlv Records, The Orchard – Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer (WINNER)Playlunch, Abc Music – Playlunch, KeithSecretly Group – Folk Bitch Trio, Now Would Be A Good TimeThe Annex – Ocean Alley, Love BalloonIndependent Music Video Of The YearBall Bass John – Ninajirachi, Fuck My ComputerBridgette Winten, Folk Bitch Trio – Folk Bitch Trio, Cathode Ray (WINNER)Claudia Sangiorgi Dalimore – Miss Kaninna, BackstreetsTas Wilson, James Adams – Jem Cassar-Daley, Kiss Me Like You’re LeavingJasper Van Daatselaar – Way Dynamic, People Settle DownIndependent Mix, Studio Or Mastering Engineer Of The YearBecki Whitton, Timothy Harvey, Hannah Cameron – Ruby Gill, Some Kind Of ControlLeon Zervos – Ocean Alley, Love BalloonMichael Carpenter – Imogen Clark, Choking On FuelStephen Mowat – Wilsn, BloomThomas Purcell Pka Wave Racer – Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer (WINNER) Breakthrough Independent Artist Of The Year – Presented By PPCAFolk Bitch Trio (WINNER)Georgia KnightRageflowerRona.Yes BooneBest Independent Hip Hop Album Or EPBliss N Eso – The Moon (The Light Side)Devaura – Vol 1. Learning In Public (WINNER)Elsy Wameyo – WameyoJamaica Moana – Bud & DeniTeether & Kuya Neil – Yearn Iv Best Independent Electronic Album Or EPEssendon Airport – MorMel Blue – No More Jackets PleaseNinajirachi – I Love My Computer (WINNER)Rona. – It’s All Here (EP)Shouse – Collective EcstasyBest Independent Dance/ Club SingleConfidence Man, Jade – GossipDJ Pgz And Yikes – Ouss OussFisher – StayShouse – SunriseVv Pete – Wassa Feat. Utility, Formation Boyz (WINNER)Best Independent Electronic SingleCosmo’s Midnight – 45Keanu Nelson – Place Where I Go / Kapi NgalyananniNinajirachi – Ipod Touch (WINNER)Robert Baxter & Sweatbaby – Icy (Take It Off)The Superjesus & The Journey – Something GoodBest Independent Punk Album Or EPPress Club – To All The Ones I LovePrivate Function – ¯\_(ツ)_/¯Radio Free Alice – Empty Words EpThese New South Whales – Godspeed (WINNER)Wet Kiss – Thus Spoke The Broken ChanteuseBest Independent Heavy Album Or EPBattlesnake – Dawn Of The Exultants And The Hunt For The ShepherdHands Like Houses – AtmosphericsNpcede – NpcedeThe Maggie Pills – Hearts Induring Lingering LossThornhill – Bodies (WINNER)Independent Album Of The YearFolk Bitch Trio – Now Would Be A Good TimeNinajirachi – I Love My Computer (WINNER)The 046 – Legacy In MotionThe Belair Lipbombs – AgainWay Dynamic – Massive ShoeIndependent Song Of The YearJem Cassar-Daley – Kiss Me Like You’re LeavingKeli Holiday – Dancing2Ninajirachi – Ipod Touch (WINNER)Playlunch – KeithWay Dynamic – Miffed ItIndependent Label Of The YearABC MusicAstral People RecordingsCollege Of KnowledgeMushroom Music NLV Records (WINNER)Independent Publicity Team Of The YearCult Logic – Ocean Alley, Love BalloonMushroom Music – Bliss N Eso, The Moon (The Light Side)Mushroom Music – Wilsn, BloomTwnty Three – Folk Bitch Trio, Now Would Be A Good Time (WINNER)Twnty Three – Ninajirachi, I Love My ComputerIndependent Producer Of The YearAngus Stone – Dope Lemon, Golden WolfBenjamin Stewart – Slowly Slowly, Forgiving SpreeDylan Young – Way Dynamic, Massive ShoeNick DiDia – Ocean Alley, Love BalloonNina Wilson – Ninajirachi, I Love My Computer (WINNER) 2026 Outstanding Achievement Award Sebastian Chase (WINNER)